The enduring legacy of Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood stands out among children’s programming. The quiet demeanor of Fred Rogers, with his calm presence, creates a unique opportunity to engage in lessons of kindness, acceptance, self-esteem, and empathy.

On June 8th, a documentary about the life and legacy of the iconic children’s television host is coming out. Here’s a link to the trailer, Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

My interest in the upcoming documentary led me to learn more about Mr. Rogers. If you care to look online, there is an abundance of his many quotes, but one in particular stands out to me,

“When we can talk about our feelings, they become less overwhelming, less upsetting, and less scary”

As a child, I watched Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood, but I didn’t recall the show’s message being so insightful. I, too, believe that there is real power in sharing emotions. I consistently notice that when my clients share their deepest hurts, fears, or unmentioned feelings, a noticeable shift of relief will follow.

In our busy lives, however, we rarely slow down and reflect on how we feel. Some feelings that I frequently hear clients express are:

• “Feelings are weakness”
• “Something is wrong with me”
• “I’m not good enough”
• “I feel silly for getting so emotional”

Simply talking about our feelings is vital to the process of therapy. The value of slowing down, reflecting, getting curious, and talking about emotions cannot be overstated.

Finding someone you can trust to listen and guide you through expressing your feelings can help empower you on your journey. This is an invitation to come to a safe place, and know that you are not alone.

Dustin Ellis, CIT

DEllis@growcounseling.com